There’s no better way to kick off the summer season than hosting a Memorial Day cookout. To make yours stress-free, keep it simple. Pick out easy main courses for the grill such as burgers, brats or chicken, and try healthy, cut-and-serve side dishes such as cucumber salad, grilled vegetables and corn. Invite your friends, offer outdoor games such as cornhole and croquet, and join in the fun. And as you celebrate the official start of summer, don’t forget to honor the nation’s veterans, many of whom gave their lives in service.
Tag: Memorial Day
Stage a Successful Memorial Day Garage Sale
A few of Café Mom’s top 10 secrets to a successful Memorial Day garage sale are location, good signage, fair prices, clean stuff, advertising and organization. Also, don’t put something out if you don’t really want to sell it, the story says, and don’t be seller who tries to sell the same things every weekend. Be ready to haggle if you want to make some quick cash, and if something doesn’t sell, “either throw it out or (if you think it’s really good), donate it.”
Celebrating the Fallen
One of the best ways to observe the nation’s fallen service members is to donate time, money, and supplies to (living) veterans programs. You can spend time with local veterans, buy a poppy to support the Veterans of Foreign Wars while you watch the parade, and contribute your old stuff to ClothingDonations.org to help fund veterans’ initiatives nationwide. Or—for maximum decluttering and incredible amounts of good karma—you can use the three-day weekend to stage a garage sale, give the proceeds to VVA, and donate whatever doesn’t sell.
The Origins of Memorial Day
Memorial Day has its roots in the springtime observances that began immediately after the end of the Civil War in towns throughout the war-torn country, according to the VA. The first nationwide Decoration Day—a day to honor the dead by decorating their graves with flowers and bunting—was held on May 30, 1868, with its first official observance at Arlington National Cemetery. After World War I, Decoration Day expanded to recognize fallen service members of all U.S. wars, but not until 1971 was Memorial Day declared a national holiday.
Observing Service on Memorial Day
On May 29, Memorial Day will celebrate the men and women who have given their lives in service to their country, and the Odyssey blog suggests 11 easy ways to celebrate that service. Write a letter to a living service member, visit a cemetery or memorial to lay flowers in honor of a deceased soldier, and fly the flag. You can also welcome living veterans who are visiting the graves of their deceased comrades or marching in the local parade, thank them for their service, and participate in the National Moment of Remembrance alongside them.